Inherently mold-releasable mold or casting composition

ABSTRACT

AN INHERENTLY MOLD-RELEASABLE COMPOSITION WHICH MAY BE USED AS EITHER THE CASTING COMPOSITON OR, IN ITS CURED STATE, THE MOLD OR AS A MOLD LINER IS DISCLOSED. NO ADDITIONAL MOLD RELEASE AGENT IS NECESSARY WHEN USING THE COMPOSITION HEREIN WHICH IS PREPARED FROM (A) HYDROXYL OR CARBOXYL-TERMINATION POLYMERS CONTAINING PENDANT 3PERFLUOROALKYL - 2 - IODOPROPYL OR 2-PERFLUOROALKYL-1-IODOETHYL GROUPS, AND (B) POLYISOCYANATES OR POLYEPOXIDES.

United States Patent @fice U.S. Cl. 260-775 CR 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inherently mold-releasable composition which may be used as either the casting composition or, in its cured state, the mold or as a mold liner is disclosed. No additional mold release agent is necessary when using the composition herein which is prepared from (a) hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymers containing pendant 3- perfluoroalkyl 2 iodopropyl or 2-perfluoroalkyl-1-iodoethyl groups, and (b) polyisocyanates or polyepoxides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to an inherently mold-releasable composition for use as either a casting composition or, in its cured state, a mold or a mold liner, i.e. no additional mold release agent or parting compound need be used in conjunction with this invention. The invention is a cured or curable polymer prepared from a polyisocyanate or a polyepoxide and a hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymer containing pendant vinyl or allyl groups wherein perfluoroalkyl iodides have been added to said groups to form Z-perfluoroalkyl-l-iodoethyl or 3-perfluoroalkyl-2-iodopropyl groups.

Description of the Prior Art Previous polymers containing perfluoro groups have centered upon adding the perfluoro group to a monomer and then polymerizing the monomer to yield the desired product. Cf. U.S. 3,645,989 and 3,645,990. Whereas, in this invention the perfiuoroalkyl iodide is added to the pendant vinyl or allyl groups of a hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymer containing said groups.

Also, previous reactions of fluoroalkyl iodides with organic compounds have centered about the addition of polyfluoroalkyl methyl or ethyl iodides, i.e. R CH I or R CH CH I, to low molecular weight aliphatic compounds to yield products wherein the iodide is on a carbon atom separated from the perfluoro group by more than one interventing carbon atom. Examples of these reactions are illustrated in the articles by Henne et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 73, 1791 (1951); by Hazeldine, J. Chem. Soc., London, 1199 (1953); as Well as in U.S. Pats. 2,972,638, 3,016,406, and 3,408,411.

Other prior work dealt with reactions of polyfluoroalkyl iodides which would not occur by ultraviolet light initiation. Cf. U.S. 3,145,222. The preparation of the basic perfluoroalkyl iodide modified hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymer used in this invention may proceed under ultraviolet light catalysis.

Additionally, U.S. 3,427,366 as well as other patents describe the production of polyurethanes from hydroxy terminated diene polymers, but not with fluorocarbon containing polymers. Copending, coassigned U.S. Ser. No. 259,650 discloses the preparation of perfiuoroalkyl iodide modified polymeric resins which are suitable for use herein. Also, previous fluorinated polyurethanes have had the fluorine attached directly to backbone carbon atoms as opposed to having high fluorine content groups attached to pendant groups so as to be closer to the surface of the cured product which is believed to be a major factor in the mold release properties herein.

3,838,] Patented Sept. 24, 1974 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides fluorine-containing polymers which have unusual properties and surface characteristics such as to make the cured polymers inherently mold-releasable. Thus, a mold or mold liner prepared from these polymers requires no additional mold release agent. Alternatively, when these polymers are used as the casting composition, no additional mold release agent is necessary.

It is an object of this invention to prepare polymeric molds, mold liners, and casting compositions which require no additional mold release agent for use as such.

These and other objects will become apparent in the following description and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The mold, mold liner, or casting composition of this invention is prepared from a polymer which is prepared from l) a hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymer having pendant vinyl or allyl groups, wherein perfiuoroalkyl iodides have been reacted with at least some of the pendant groups and (2) a polyisocyanate or a polyepoxide. It is believed that the unusual mold release properties of the resultant mold, mold liner or casting composition are due to the placement of the perfluoroalkyl iodide groups on the pendant vinyl or allyl groups such that the fluorocarbon chains are effectively predominantly on the surface of the resultant cured polymer.

Accordingly, the polymers which are suitable for use in this invention must have two features: 1) they must have hydroxyl or carboxyl terminals to subsequently react with polyisocyanates or polyepoxides to prepare the prepolymers and 2) they must have pendant vinyl or allyl groups suitable for reaction with the perfiuoroalkyl iodides. Polymers having these requirements include but are not limited to hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymers and copolymers, polyethers, polyesters, and polysulfides. With all of these polymers, generally the higher the pendant vinyl or allyl content, the more fluorine which may be attached to the polymer.

The hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymers and copolymers may be prepared in any well known manner such as in U.S. Pats. 3,427,366 or 3,663,480 incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, these polymers are commercially available and are sold under trade names such as PolyBDR-15M and R-45HT from the Atlantic Richfield Company, and HYSTL 6-1000, G-2000, and G- 3000 from the Hystl Development Company.

The carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymers and copolymers may be prepared as described in U.S. 3,235,- 5 89, and may have a molecular weight within the range of 500 to 10,000. Alternatively, a commercially available carboxyl-terminated butadiene liquid polymer, as for example, those designated HYSTL C1000 and C-2000 from the Hystl Development Company, and those designated HC-434 from Thiokol Chemical Corporation, may be used.

The copolymers of butadiene may be with styrene, acrylic acid, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, isoprene, u-methyl styrene, N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl pyrrolidene, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride, or any other monomer. Examples of commercially available copolymers are designated Poly BD CS-15 and CN15 from Atlantic Richfield Company. CS-15 is a /25 butadiene/ styrene polymer. CN- 15 is a /15 butadiene/acrylonitrile polymer.

Representative polyester resins containing pendant vinyl groups will be those obtained from the reaction of dicarboxylic acid, with, trimethylol propane monoallyl ether or a mixture of the allyl ether with a glycol such as propylene glycol.

The number of pendant vinyl groups, present in the polyester resin, would depend on the amount of the allyl ether used in the esterification.

Polyether containing pendant vinyl groups are obtained from the polymerization of an oxirane such as allyl glycidyl ether in the presence of boron trifiuoride as the catalyst.

Other epoxides such as ethylene oxide can be copolymerized with the allyl glycidyl ether as a way of controlling the number of pendant vinyl groups present in the polyether.

A polysulfide backboned polymer with the pendant allyl groups useful herein may be prepared by incorporating 2,3-dichloropropylallylether in the reaction in place of, or in addition to, the normal trichloropropane. To have hydroxyl terminals, the product is capped with ethylene oxide. Furthermore, hydroxyl and carboxyl terminals may be formed as in US. 2,676,165.

The perfluoroalkyl iodides which are suitable for use in this invention correspond to the general formula: C F I wherein 11:2 to 30, preferably 12:2 to 20, and most preferably any single perfluoroalkyl iodide or any mixture thereof. These iodides may be prepared in any well known manner. Representative modes of preparation are illustrated in Fluorocarbons and their Derivatives by R. E. Banks, London, 1964, p. 56-61; and in an article by Hazeldine, J. Chem. Soc., London, 1953, p. 3761 which are incorporated herein by reference. These perfluoroalkyl iodides are completely fluorinated and contain no hydrogen or other substituents along the alkyl chain as evidenced by the alternative representation R I. While individual iodides may be used, some advantages develop from the use of mixed alkyl groups, thereby making such a mixture suitable for use in this invention.

The addition of the perfluoroalkyl iodides to the hydroxyl or carboxyl-terminated polymer, having pendant vinyl or allyl groups wherein perfluoroalkyl iodide is reacted with at least some of the pendant vinyl or allyl groups, may readily be performed by reacting perfluoroalkyl iodides with the desired polymer in the presence of a free-radical generating catalyst or ultraviolet light, at a temperature of about 40-l50 C., and either with or without solvent as disclosed in, and incorporated by reference herein, copending U.S. Ser. No. 259,650 filed June 5, 1972.

The reaction products of this invention may be dehydroiodinated for the most part by reaction with an amine such as morpholine or a strong base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in a suitable medium such as water or dioxane. The removal of the iodine produces a less corrosive product, which may be desirable, but is not necessary, to produce the molds of this invention. The dehydroiodinated version is meant to be encompassed within the meaning of the reactions of the perfluoroalkyl iodides and the hydroxyl or carboxyl-terrninated polymers and copolymers.

The perfluoroalkyl iodide modified polymers with hydroxyl terminals are then reactable with polyisocyanates to prepare urethane prepolymers using conventional technology, or to be reacted with polyepoxides to form polyether again with conventional technology. Furthermore, the carboxyl terminated modified polymers may be reacted with the polyepoxides to form polyesters.

Examples of suitable organic polyisocyanates, which are reacted with the perfluoroalkyl iodide modified hydroxyl terminated polymers to form said urethane prepolymers, include aromatic diisocyanates such as 2,4- tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 3,3- dimethyl-4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 4,4-diphen ylene diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate; aliphatic diisocyanates such as trimethylene diisocyanate tetramethylene diisocyanate, adipyl diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate; aliphatic diisocyanates containing the aromatic ring such as p-xylene diisocyanate, m-xylylene diisocyanate; cyclo-aliphatic diisocyanates such as methylene-bis-4,4'-cyclohexylisocyanate, isopropylidene-bis-4,4- cyclohexylisocyanate, cyclohexane, 1,4-diisocyanate. Mixture of two or more of said polyisocyanates may also be used.

In addition to the simple polyisocyanates described above, the hydroxyl-terminated perfluoroalkyl iodide modified materials can be condensed with isocyanate polymers, such as polyarylene polyisocyanate (PAPI) and/ or with isocyanate-terminated polyhydroxy materials, e.g., polyesters, etc., which are generally produced by reacting the isocyanate with, for example, polyglycols (such as polypropylene glycol) and polyesters (for instance of glycols, including polyglycols and polycarboxylic acids, such as polyethylene adipate). These materials may be reacted with an excess of a diisocyanate. An example of such a material is the product obtained by the reaction of one mole of propylene glycol with 2 moles of 2,4- tolylene diisocyanate as shown below:

CH3 CH As mentioned, polyisocyanates such as the materials sold commercially as PAPI (polyarylene polyisocyanate) of the following structure:

NCO NCO can also be employed. Other isocyanate reactants which can be utilized in the manufacture of the products of the present invention are isocyanate terminated prepolymers prepared by the reaction of tolylene diisocyanates or other isocyanates with hydroxyl or amine-terminated polyesters, polyethers, or polyamides so that the hydroxyl terminated perfluoroalkyl iodide modified polymers disclosed herein act as chain extending or curing agents for the other polymers. The isocyanate materials are often used in an amount sufficient to supply 0.1 to 10 NCO groups per OH group of the intermediate polymer, preferably about 0.5 to 5 isocyanate groups per hydroxyl. When simple diisocyanates are used, it is preferred to employ about 410%, say about 5-8% diisocyanate by weight of the intermediate polymer, or other hydroxyl-terminated polymer which enters the urethane reaction.

In view of the natural afifinity of fluorocarbon compounds for oxygen from the air, skinning of the fluoromodified polymers is relatively rapid. Accordingly any normal antioxidant may be used, such as a phenolic antioxidant like Plastanox 2246, or 4,4'-methylene bis (2,6- di-tert-butylphenol) (Ethyl Corp. Antioxidant 702), or 4,4-methylene bis (6-tert-butyl-o-cresol) (Ethyl Corp. Antioxidant 720).

The NCO-terminated perfluoroalkyl iodide modified polymer is then cured to form a mold or a mold liner, or it is used as a casting composition. In all cases, the curing is in accord with normal urethane technology, i.e. "both polyols and polyamines may be used either individually or in mixtures.

These prepolymers may be reacted with polyhydroxy materials such as glycols, including polyglycols, polyesters and further amounts of hydroxyl-terminated polydiene, to give additional urethane linkages in the finished polymer. When reacted with diamines, urea-urethane polymers are formed. Urea-urethane polymers also may be formed in a single step by concurrent reactions among the perfluoroalkyl iodide modified polymer, the polyisocyanate and the diamine.

A wide variety of aromatic and aliphatic diamines may be employed as a reaction component to make the inherently mold releasable molds, mold liners, or casting compositions of the present invention.

Typical amines of up to 40 or more carbon atoms which may be employed are aromatic diamines (both substituted and unsubstituted) such as 4,4'-methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) (MOCA), 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine (DCB), N,N'- disecondarybutyl p-phenylene diamine, N,N'-dibenzylethylene diamine, methane diamine, ethylene diamine, ethanolamines, hydroxylamine, p,p'-diphenylamine, p-phenylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, diethylene triamine, tetraethylene pentarnine, lauroguanamine, and amine-terminated products obtained from the reaction of dibasic acids with diamines. Diamides of similar carbon atom range can also 'be employed as chain extending agents; e.g., materials made by the reaction of dibasic acids, acid chlorides or anhydrides with ammonia.

Typical polyols which may be employed are such as polypropylene diol, oxypropylated ethylene diamine, ethylene glycol, catechol, oxypropylated aniline, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, the butane diols, pentane diol, hexane diol, neopentyl glycol, triallyloxy pentaerythritol, triallyloxy hexane tetrol, tetraallyloxy arabitol, and pentallyloxy dulcitol.

Alternatively, the perfluoroalkyl iodide modified hydroxyl terminated polymer can be used to cure other NCO-terminated prepolymers as indicated above, again by conventional urethane technology, to produce the molds, mold liners, or casting composition of this invention which require no mold release agent when used.

Polyepoxide materials react with the above-described hydroxyl or carboxyl terminated perfluoroalkyliodide-modified polymers to form polyethers or polyesters possessing the same mold release properties described. The polyepoxides are preferably liquids which have an average epoxide functionality of approximately two epoxide groups per molecule of polyepoxide material. The position of epoxide groups in the polyepoxide material is not critical to the practice of this invention. For instance, if the polyepoxide material is essentially linear in structure epoxide groups may be in terminal positions or they may be positioned intermediately and/or randomly along the linear structure. Polyepoxide materials which may enter into cure with the above defined polymers include the following types of materials:

(1) Essentially linear types such as and epoxidized polybutadiene materials such as those which have an epoxide functionality of four or more and which are sold under the designation Oxiron resins, i.e., Oxiron 2000, Oxiron 2001 and O'xiron 2002;

(2) Epichlorohydrin=bisphenol A types which are aromatic in nature and which include those sold under the trademark designation Tipox, i.e., Tipox A,- Tipox B, and Tipox C, those sold under the designation Epon resins, i.e., Epon 828 and Epon 820, those sold under the designation Bakelite ERL resins, and those sold under the designation Epi-Rez resins, i.e., Epi-Rez 510;

(3) Cyclo-aliphatic types which include those sold under the designation Unox resins. i.e., Unox 306, which is epoxy ethyl-3,4-epoxy cyclohexane and. Unox 201, which is 3,4-epoxy-6-methylcyclohexylmethyl-3,4- epoxy-6-methylcyclohexaneoarboxylate;

(4) Resorcinol diglycidyl ether types which include those sold under the designation Kopoxite resins, i.e., Kopoxite 159;

(5) Epoxy novalak type which includes the resins sold under the designations Dow Epoxy Noval-ak 43 8 and DEN438-EK85, and also those sold under the designation KER resins, i.e., KER 357A and KER 955A;

(6) Epoxidized fatty acid resins including the Epoxol materials such as Epoxol 9-5; and others. In certain instances some solid polyepoxide materials may be used, say Where a finely distributed uniform dispersion with liquid polymers may be obtained, or where the solid p'olyepoxides are soluble in the polymer. Useful polyepoxide materials according to the practice of this invention have epoxide equivalent weights of 100 to over 4000. Thus within the requirements here taught a practitioner in the art may choose from among a wide variety of olyepoxide materials as to specific epoxide equivalent values, specific molecular configuration, molecular Weight and functionality to pursue practice of this invention.

The fluorine content of any of the polymers is not critical but is controlled more for economic then technical reasons. Thus, the polymer may have a fluorine content of 1-40% preferably 325%, and most preferably 615%. Of course. the higher the fluorine content, the more long lasting are the mold release properties.

The following examples are given to illustrate the practice of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE I This example shows the detailed preparation of a mold representative of this invention, and its subsequent testing.

A mixture of 250 g. of Poly BD R-45M resin (a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymer from ARCO Chemical), 61.24 g. of perfluorodecyl iodide (C F I), 5 g. benzoyl peroxide, and 200 mls. di-oxane were placed in a reaction flask containing a stirrer and condenser. The reaction mixture was cloudy pink but turned clear amber during gradual heating to C. The reaction was kept at a slow reflux for 10 hours and the progress thereof followed by vapor phase chromatographic analysis. When no unreacted C F I was present, as shown by the chromatographic analysis, the solvent was removed by means of a vacuum evaporator with a water bath at 40 C. for 7 hours. The result was 237.1 g. of perfluorodecyl iodide modified hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene polymer which had 11.00% fluorine.

Conversion of the fiuorinated, hydroxyl-terminated polymer to a urethane prepolymer was achieved by further reaction of the resin with a diisocyanate (TDI). 33 g. of Hylene TM (a mixture of 2,4 and 2,6 tolylene diisocyanate) was added to the fiuorinated resin of above and the reactants were heated for 5 hours at 75-80 C. to complete the prepolymer reaction. The prepolymer then had a 3.40% NCO and 10.26% fluorine content.

The above fiuorinated urethane prepolymer was made into a mold wherein its mold release properties were tested. The mold was formulated from g. of the prepolymer from above, .25 g. Antifoam A, 2.87 g. Quadrol (N,N,N',N tetrakis (2 hydroxypropyl ethylene diamine), and 2.87 g. 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol. The Antifoam A was used as a degassing agent to produce bubble free molds. After all of the ingredients were mixed together the composition was degassed in a heated desiccator under vacuum at F. for 5 minutes. The composition was then poured into a mold with a pattern of the article to be later cast. The mold was then allowed to cure for 16 hours at room temperature, whereupon the pattern was removed.

To test the mold release properties of the mold, a water filled polyester resin was cast into the mold, cured at room temperature, and removed. 100 g. Plylite polyester resin from Reichhold Chemical was extended with 100 g. tap water with the water being added gradually with stirring until a uniform mixture was obtained. Just prior to each casting 3 parts/100 parts of water extended resin of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide in butyl phthalate solution was added as curing agent. 50 separate castings were made from the mold prepared as above all of the castings were removed from the mold with no trouble whatsoever. Also, all of the castings were extremely clear in detail.

EXAMPLE II The procedure of Example I was repeated except that a hydroxyl terminated butadiene/ styrene copolymer (Poly BD CS- from ARCO) was substituted for the butadiene homopolymer.

Into the resultant mold was cast an extended urethane, Vultafoam RUR-ZSl-lO from General Latex and Chemical Corp. More than excellent castings were obtained without the use of any mold release agent.

EXAMPLE III The procedure of Example II was repeated except varying the curative used in preparing the mold. The following curatives were used in the amounts specified per 100 g. of fiuorinated prepolymer:

a. Isonol 100 6.4 Quadrol 1.12 b. Triisopropanol Amine 5.36 c. Isonol 100 7.04 Quadrol 1.23 d. Trimethylolpropane 3.76 e. Isonol 100 5.81 Quadrol 1.02

In all of the curing formulations, the molds cured within 24 hours, and they all showed their mold release properties when the Vult-afoam RUR25 1-10 was cast into them. Isonol 100 is N,N-bis (Z-hydroxypropyl) aniline from Upjohn.

EXAMPLE IV This example shows the use of the fiuorinated polyurethane as a mold liner for a polyurethane mold.

To prepare the mold, a composition like that of Example I, but with a fluorine content of only 4.2% was degassed and poured into a mold with the pattern sought to be cast. This mold was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours at which time the mixture had gelled and was in a tacky state. Next a strip of Teflon was placed at one end, over the tacky material, to prevent adhesion between the fiuorinated urethane prepolymer and the unfluorinated urethane at this point. The separation was for testing the adhesion between the two materials, and would not normally be there.

Next a mixture of Solithane291, a polyester-based urethane prepolymer of Thiokol Chemical Corporation, and Isonol 93 curative from Upjohn was prepared, degassed, and then poured into the mold over the fluorinated composition. The mold was then allowed to cure for 24 hours at room temperature.

To determine the mold release properties of the mold which was lined with the fiuorinated material, an epoxy resin ERL-2795 from Union Carbide was prepared and cast into the mold. More than 10 castings were obtained with no apparent deterioration in the mold release properties. All of the castings were clear in detail and easily released from the mold.

To test the adhesion between the fiuorinated and nonfluorinated polyurethanes, the Teflon strip was removed and the two materials were pulled apart. It was found that exceptional adhesion had formed, thereby showing the use of the composition as a mold liner. Also, during the removal of the above castings by flexing the mold, no separation occurred between the fiuorinated and nonfluorinated polyurethanes.

EXAMPLE V A mold requiring no mold release agent is prepared from a polysulfide-backboned-polymer by incorporating in the preparation thereof 2,3-dichloropropylallylether in place of the trichloropropane and capping the mercaptan terminated polymer with ethylene oxide to give hydroxyl terminals. Thus a polysulfide polymer with hydroxyl terminals and pendant allyl groups is prepared. The procedure of Example I in adding the pcrfluoroalkyl iodide, making the urethane prepolymer and making a mold therefrom is repeated. The prepolymer is made to have 16.2% fluorine.

To test the mold release properties of the resultant mold, a polyester casting resin, MR37C produced by W. R. Grace & Co., is prepared and cast into the mold as described previously. Fifteen castings with excellent reproduction of detail are obtained with no apparent deterioration of the mold.

EXAMPLE VI A polyether mold requiring no mold release agent is prepared by reacting the hydroxyl-terminated fluorocarboa-containing polybutadiene polymer of Example I with a polyepoxy resin. The mold is formulated from g. of the polymer of Example I, 50 g. of ERL-2774 (a hisphenol-A type epoxy resin from Union Carbide) 5 g. 2,4,6-tri (dimethyl-amino methyl) phenol as a catalyst, and 0.5 g. Antifoam A. A mold is prepared from this formulation as described in Example I and the mold release properties are tested with the Polylite water extended polyester resin. Over 35 separate castings are made and all of the castings have a detailed and precise reproduction of the surface pattern of the article being copied.

EXAMPLE VII This example shows the preparation of a polyester mold from a carboxyl-terminated polymer and a polyepoxide.

The procedure of Example I is repeated except that HC-434 (a carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene resin from Thiokol Chemical Corporation) replaces the Poly BD R-45M and a polyepoxide is used instead of the Hylene TM. The mold is then prepared from 100 g. of the 18.3% fluorocarbon-containing carboxyl terminated polymer, 20 g. of ERL-4289 from Union Carbide [bis (3,4-epoxy-6- methyl cyclohexyl methyl) adipate], 3 g. of stannous octoate catalyst, and 0.5 g. Antifoam A degassing agent.

The resultant mold is tested using the Polylite Water extended polyester resin of Example I and more than 35 castings are obtained all with excellent reproduction of the surface characteristics of the article being copied.

What is claimed is:

1. A mold, which requires no mold release agent, in which at least the surface that contacts a casting composition comprises a cured fluorocarbon-containing polyurethane comprising polyurethane prepolymers prepared from polyisocyanates and hydroxyl-terminated polymers, the ratio of NCO groups to OH groups being from 0.1 to 10, wherein said hydroxyl-terminated polymers contain pendant vinyl or allyl groups and wherein at least some of said pendant groups are converted to 2-perfluoroalkyl- 1 iodoethyl groups or 3 perfluoroalkyl-Z-iodopropyl groups to provide a fluorine content of from 1 to 40%.

2. The mold of claim 1 wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene polymers, polybutadiene copolymers, polyether polymers, polyester polymers, and polysulfide polymers.

3. The mold of claim 2 wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are polybutadiene polymers.

4. The mold of claim 2 wherein the hydroXyl-terminated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are butadiene/ styrene copolymers.

5. The mold of claim 1 wherein the cured fluorocarboncontaining polyurethane polymer comprises the entire mold.

6. The mold of claim 1 wherein the cured fluorocarboncontaining polymer prior to curing contains 325% by weight fluorine.

7. The mold of claim 1 wherein the cured fluorocarboncontaining polymer prior to curing contains 615% by weight fluorine.

8. A fluorocarbon-containing polymer casting composition, which is inherently mold releasable, which comprises a polyurethane comprising polyurethane prepolymers prepared from polyisocyanates and the hydroxyl-terminated polymers, the ratio of NCO groups to OH groups being in the range of 0.1 to 10, wherein said hydroxyl-terminated polymers contain pendant vinyl or allyl groups and wherein at least some of said pendant groups are converted to Z-perfluoroalkyl-l iodoethyl groups or 3-perfluoroalkyl-2-iodopropyl groups to provide a fluorine content of from 1 to 40%.

9. The casting composition of claim 8 wherein the hydroXyl-terrninated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene polymers, polybutadiene copolymers, polyether polymers, polyester polymers, and polysulfide polymers.

10. The casting composition of claim 9 wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are polybutadiene polymers.

11. The casting composition of claim 9 wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polymers having pendant vinyl or allyl groups are butadiene/styrene copolymers.

12. The casting composition of claim 8 wherein the fluorine content is 3-25% by weight.

13. The casting composition of claim 8 wherein the fluorine content is 6-15 by Weight.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,135,716 6/1964 Uraneck 260-45.5 3,145,222 8/1964 Brace 260-408 3,427,366 2/1969 Verdol 260-859 3,431,235 4/1969 Lubowitz 260-859 3,503,915 3/1970 Peterson 260-29.2 3,515,772 6/1970 Lubowitz 260-836 3,533,977 10/1970 Read 260-859 3,616,193 10/ 1971 Lubowitz 260-8-59 3,631,155 12/1971 Smiley 260-77.5 CR 3,635,891 1/1972 Lubowitz 260-859 3,637,614 1/1972 Greenwood 260-859 3,645,985 2/1972 Pacini 260-859 3,645,989 2/1972 Tandy 26080.73 3,645,990 2/1972 Raynolds 260-80.75 3,674,743 7/1972 Verdol 260-859 3,763,078 10/1973 Aldrich 260-859 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,796 7/1965 Japan 260-94.7

PAUL LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

106-3825; 204-15918; 260- NA, 94.7 HA, 830 R, 835, 836, 837 R, 859 R 

